How to Organize Your Cognitive Resources: A THT Exploration
Think New. Think Brave.
Guidelines for dealing with the challenges of information overload to thrive in the 21st century
"Automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. Automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency." — Bill Gates
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
We live in a world of increasing complexity. People are overwhelmed by information through its various channels. Small and seemingly simple tasks that can otherwise be seen as mundane are becoming more difficult to incorporate into everyday life as they easily end up in the periphery (Hoq, 2016). This increasing complexity can influence individuals in our society in several ways such as affecting their general wellbeing, leaving people feeling overwhelmed and confused (Misra. & Stokols, 2012) and affecting the quality of their decision-making (Hoq, 2016).
1.2 About Isak
- Background as a systems developer
- Ran my own IT company before my burnout
- Certified Health coach and Life coach
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1.3 Purpose
By providing scientific evidence, and real-life examples related to the use of digital systems, I aim to provide the employees at THT with a basic understanding of which problems and opportunities exist so that challenges and opportunities of technological advancement can be dealt with more efficiently and with less effort.
1.4 Scope
The depth of explanation is aimed towards providing a high-level overview rather than an in-depth complete explanation since that would require an entire book rather than a presentation.
2. Previous Research and Theory
I’ve included a long list of references for those interested in digging deeper into any specific topic, mainly focused upon information overload, memory, attention, learning, creativity, productivity, flow, personal knowledge management and automation.
2.1 Definitions
Name | Definition |
Knowledge worker | A person whose occupation is predominantly concerned with generating or interpreting
information, as contrasted with manual labor. |
Information overload | A situation in which you receive too much information at one time and cannot think
about it in a clear way. |
Memory | The power or process of reproducing or recalling what has been learned and retained
especially through associative mechanisms |
Attention | The behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on an aspect of
information |
Inattentional blindness | Failure to notice a fully visible but unexpected object because one’s attention was
focused on something else. |
Multitasking and Attentional Switching | The engaging in more than one activity at the same time or serially, switching one's
attention back and forth from one activity to another. |
Flow state | An altered state of consciousness in which the mind functions at its peak, time may
seem distorted, and a sense of happiness prevails. |
Pattern recognition | A process that involves matching received information received from the external
environment to information stored in our brain to generate new patterns. |
Personal knowledge base | A personalized repository of knowledge used to capture and retrieve sources of
information related to an individual. |
Automation | The automatically controlled operation of an apparatus, process, or system by
mechanical or electronic devices that take the place of human labor. |
3. Analysis
3.1 SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Successful Business Model
Think Happy Thoughts' existing success provides a solid foundation for further improvements. They are well established and have a solid foundation to build upon.
Employee Skills and Expertise
Employees possess the skills necessary for high-quality work, which can be enhanced with better procedures.
Collaborative Environment - Innovative Mindset
Open-minded leadership willing to explore new solutions, new technologies, and new processes. The willingness to consider new tools and automations indicates a forward-thinking approach.
Lack of Standard Operating Procedures
No formal structure in place for processes. The absence of SOPs makes it difficult to maintain consistency and efficiency.
Information Overload
Multiple software programs are used without integration, leading to inefficiencies. Utilizing multiple software without integration leads to chaotic data management.
Fragmented Onboarding
The onboarding process is basic and lacks detailed checklists or SOPs. New hires face a steep learning curve without structured onboarding.
Process Automation
Significant potential for automating repetitive tasks to save time and reduce errors.
Automating mundane tasks can significantly enhance productivity.
Centralized Systems
Implementing a unified system to integrate various tools and processes. Streamlining operations can make data more accessible and actionable.
Improved Onboarding
Developing comprehensive SOPs and detailed onboarding processes for new employees. Comprehensive onboarding can enable new hires to become effective more quickly, improving overall team efficiency.
Resistance to Change
Employees may resist adopting new systems and procedures. We can overcome this through Change Management, where strong change management strategies necessitates when employee resistance arises
Technical Challenges
Difficulties in integrating disparate software tools and training employees on new systems. Integrating various software can be complex and may require specialized knowledge.
Resource Constraints
Limited time and resources available to implement and manage new solutions.
The time and financial investment required for implementation might strain the company's resources.
3.2 Analysis Clarification
3.3 Proposed Solutions
3.4 Potential Concerns
Implementing AI (Artificial Intelligence) and RPA (Robotic Process Automation) in a business environment can raise several concerns. Addressing these objections effectively is crucial to ensure stakeholders understand the value and ethical use of these technologies.
4. Case Studies and System Examples
Share Mentimeter QR Code to have audience vote
How to use AI + Automations to effectively streamline mundane parts of recurring processes.
How to use automations to manage leads effectively
How to use AI + Automations to effectively do cold outreach and create human connections.
How to use AI + Automations to supercharge each employee with a team of AI Assistants
How to leverage AI + Automations to effectively manage incoming messages.
How to use AI + Automations to streamline Content Creation
How to standardize, document and streamline internal company processes
5. Conclusion
6. References
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- How to Organize Your Cognitive Resources: A THT Exploration
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Background
- 1.2 About Isak
- 1.3 Purpose
- 1.4 Scope
- 2. Previous Research and Theory
- 2.1 Definitions
- 3. Analysis
- 3.1 SWOT Analysis
- Strengths
- 3.2 Analysis Clarification
- 3.3 Proposed Solutions
- 3.4 Potential Concerns
- 4. Case Studies and System Examples
- 5. Conclusion
- 6. References